Controversial Islamic fundamentalist Wisam Haddad has avoided prison over a counter-terrorism raid on his western Sydney home that uncovered weapons, an Islamic State flag, a large stash of extremist DVDs, newspaper clippings and a machete under his bed.
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On Monday, Mr Haddad, the former owner of the hardline Al Risalah book store and prayer centre in Bankstown, was given a good behaviour bond in the Downing Centre Local Court for possessing three prohibited weapons: two tasers and a can of OC (oleoresin capsicum) spray.
He told officers who raided his Leppington home on January 9 that he had confiscated the items from troubled youths who frequented Al Risalah.
The OC spray was found in his bedroom, one taser was found in the garage and the other was in a box of miscellaneous items in the laundry, court documents state.
When asked how the confiscated items from Al Risalah ended up at his home, he told officers: "Well it probably came here when we moved most of the stuff."
Fairfax Media understands that officers also uncovered about 100 DVDs with religious sermons and Islamic State material, an Islamic State flag, dozens of newspaper clippings about counter-terrorism operations and various arrests in Australia and a machete under his bed.
It is understood many of the DVDs contained sermons by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the former leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Those items were seized but no charges were laid because they are not illegal to own. Most will be handed back to Mr Haddad, after his matter was finalised on Monday, Fairfax Media understands.
Police prosecutor Nick Nicholas cast doubt on Mr Haddad's claim that he had confiscated the OC spray and tasers from others.
"Why he would remain in possession of them, it defies logic," Sergeant Nicholas said.
Magistrate Michael Barko said it was concerning that Mr Haddad had not handed the items in to police and kept them at home where his five children, aged between two and 13, could have accidentally accessed them.
"Therein lies the criminality of the offence," he said.
However, Magistrate Barko said Mr Haddad was otherwise a man of "impeccable character" because he has no prior convictions and looks after his five children.
"He is a person of good ilk who is a family man and a useful member ... of the community," he said.
Mr Haddad was believed to be involved in the fire-bombing of a religious rival's juice bar and has courted controversy in the past with inflammatory comments.
He has pleaded to be deported so he could move to Islamic State territory and has professed his support for the terror group and his close friend Khaled Sharrouf, who posted gruesome photos of himself and his family while he was fighting for Islamic State.
Al Risalah was a long-time target of counter-terrorism police due to its controversial lectures and close links to several foreign fighters.
Haddad closed the bookstore in 2013, citing a vendetta by some community members and the media, however Fairfax Media understands small groups of men continue to use a back room for meetings.
Magistrate Barko recorded no conviction for the OC spray possession and handed Mr Haddad a six-month good behaviour bond.
For the possession of two tasers, he fined Mr Haddad $330 and gave him a 12-month good behaviour bond.
